Inside the 'Windsor bubble'

She's the Queen's dressmaker and confidante, and during COVID isolated with Her Majesty in Windsor Castle. In this new chapter of her memoir, Angela Kelly reveals the quiet joys and private heartache of that time.

- Angela Kelly

Her Majesty out of lockdown

1952 PLATINUM JUBILEE special

In 2020, when we returned from Sandringham to London in February, as we do every year, we knew that the coronavirus had taken hold of not just the United Kingdom, but the world. We headed for the usual weekend at Windsor Castle, and while we were there The Queen was advised that the situation was changing rapidly. Her Majesty and the Household sat tight at Windsor watching developments unfold. The Queen's spring engagements were being reviewed but my normal duties remained the same, and I was waiting to hear what the outcome would be so I could make a plan of action.

Eventually the day came in March when the Prime Minister informed the country that we were going into a national lockdown. This is when a bubble was formed by the Master of the Household, Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt, to reduce the number of staff on duty by more than half, in order to create a safe environment for The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal Household and staff had to isolate for two weeks in a separate part of the Castle before they entered the bubble. This period wasn't easy for anyone; we wore masks and did everything we had to do to take precautions.

Angela at Home Park

Dedication to service

At a time when freedom had been taken away from us all, I felt that it was even more important to isolate myself further - I would never have forgiven myself if I had passed COVID on to The Queen. So I moved into Windsor Castle and stayed by her side for two years, without a day off. My incredible team also withdrew behind the Castle walls by choice, and we were constantly on duty except for a couple of hours in the afternoon, when we could walk in the private Home Park or catch up on our work emails.